Alwesmi MB, Alharbi AI, Alsaiari AA, Abu Alreesh AE, Alasmari BA, Alanazi MA, Alanizi MK, Alsaif NM, Alanazi RM, Alshdayed SA, Alabbasi Y. The Role of Knowledge on Nursing Students' Attitudes toward Organ Donation: A Cross-Sectional Study.
Healthcare (Basel) 2023;
11:3134. [PMID:
38132024 PMCID:
PMC10742546 DOI:
10.3390/healthcare11243134]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2023] [Revised: 11/30/2023] [Accepted: 12/07/2023] [Indexed: 12/23/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND
Nursing students constitute the future nursing workforce; their knowledge can readily influence potential donors' decisions on organ donation. This study aimed to assess nursing students' knowledge of organ donation, determine its impact on their attitude, and identify relevant factors.
METHODS
A cross-sectional comparative study assessed the level of knowledge and attitude toward organ donation among nursing students using the following two questionnaires: (1) knowledge about organ donation and (2) attitudes toward posthumous organ donation. Non-probability convenience sampling was employed to collect data.
RESULTS
A total of 278 nursing students demonstrated a low level of knowledge on organ donation, with a score of 6.43 out of 15. This influenced their attitude toward organ donation (χ2 (3) = 33.91, p < 0.001). Nursing students who were willing to donate their organs showed higher knowledge (7.33 ± 3.23) compared to those who were not willing to donate their organs (5.21 ± 3.09), p < 0.001. Registered donors had higher knowledge (8.52 ± 2.99) than non-donors (5.80 ± 3.17), p < 0.001.
CONCLUSIONS
Even though nursing students typically favor organ donation, findings have revealed a low knowledge score. Therefore, it is necessary to improve knowledge of organ donation through nursing curricula and research, which could potentially increase the number of donors among future nursing students and, by extension, the broader population.
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